After I found myself with no religion and surrounded by believers, I set out to find others who shared my point of view to talk with. I found a few (2 others to be exact) who met with me around a bon fire in my backyard over 11 years ago. Little did we know all the work we were creating for ourselves and all the friends we’d make along the way. Since then, CFI Michigan (formerly Freethought Association of Michigan) meetings have happened twice a month and our numbers have grown into the hundreds.

[size=3 Kudos to the West Michigan skeptics of CFI. It’s not really that hard to be publicly without religion here in southern California; but you folks are doing right in the heartland the evangelical publishing industry. Should any of you need answers to questions regarding biblical origins or Bible prophecies—for example, when evangelicals challenge you to explain why some prophecy was “fulfilled” (at least they think so)—don’t hesitate to contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

I attended Western Michigan University in the 70’s to study Comparative Religion with E. Thomas Lawson. I enjoyed Michigan, I found that Dutch Reformed girls away from home for the first time were the wildest, prettiest girls you could hope for, and I had a grape farm near Paw Paw for a while. In 1979 we had another in a great series of winter blizzards that found me at my farm alone for two weeks, reading Dostoyevski to cheer myself up and hoping to see a snowmobile accidentally wander in to the neck high wire of the grape arbors just to see what would happen. It suddenly occurred to me that I was from New Orleans and could go home and be warm again. So I did.

Hiya,
Been a memebr for a bit but now the wife and I are re-locating from N. Michigan (near Traverse) to G.R.
Looking forward to making some meetings and having discussions with folks who view the world with an open mind.
Darren

Hello everyone,
All the recent mention of Western Michigan on this board has made me a bit nostalgic. I lived in Benton Harbor and Muskegon until the age of 10. Thanks for sparking a few warm memories of the region. Congratulations on your success. I hope it will be only the beginning.

Hello! My name is Bec. I currently live in Kalamazoo, just moved here from Grand Rapids, sadly. I love that city. I don’t know anyone here, especially people with my beliefs, or non-beliefs.
I grew up with a mother who was on-again-off-again religious, currently a strong Christian. I chose to go to a Baptist church during my adolescent years into highschool. Eventually I stopped going, but continued to have faith. About 2 years ago I came to the conclusion that I no longer believe in a higher power, and cannot foresee myself ever having faith in anything but me. I just recently saw the billboard that will be posted in Grand Rapids, which lead me to this website. Now I’m interested in finding others out there, maybe a community here in Kalamazoo! Hope to meet some of you soon!

Hi, my name is Sabrina. I am from Sterling Heights. Just looking to enjoy some rational thinkers. It will be good to talk to some of you

As for me, I have never believed in a higher power. I am fixed on science and statistics. I will be a satisfied person if I can go through life with tolerance, understanding, and helping others. People are usually personally offended if I explain my “cold” beliefs so here I am.

Welcome, Blinka. I have much the same ideas as yours, and I’m surprised at how often members on this forum have mentioned varients of your problem with people not accepting your beliefs. I don’t know whether So. Calif. is different, whether I happened to have very accepting friends, or whether I’m just too unaware to realize that people are upset, but I’ve been an atheist since I was a kid over 70 years ago, and cannot recall anyone being annoyed when I mentioned my beliefs. A few tried to argue with me, but I found that to be a lot of fun (they may not have).

Welcome, Blinka. I have much the same ideas as yours, and I’m surprised at how often members on this forum have mentioned varients of your problem with people not accepting your beliefs. I don’t know whether So. Calif. is different, whether I happened to have very accepting friends, or whether I’m just too unaware to realize that people are upset, but I’ve been an atheist since I was a kid over 70 years ago, and cannot recall anyone being annoyed when I mentioned my beliefs. A few tried to argue with me, but I found that to be a lot of fun (they may not have).

Occam

That is great! Debating is probably too much fun with me. It’s lighting a fuse to the bomb generally. While others opinions are interesting, the general idea my thoughts may be offensive is offensive. I take it in lightly where other’s not only defend their beliefs but tend to look at me like i am the evil one to dare think the way i do. my debating is just a good way to expel my thoughts. who knows, maybe one day somebody will turn to agree!

Hello, my name is Dustin. I too am looking for others that wish to challenge the world with logic and reason until truth is welcomed. My username is savior and S.A.V.I.O.R. stands for Scientist Against Violence, Ignorance, and Organized Religion. I have recently seen the need for a more evangelical atheist movement. I have hopes that there are more that share my goals and values.